24/07/2026
The APMC Heart Institute is incredibly proud to have you as part of our team. ๐ช
๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข ๐
๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐: โ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ซ๐โ
Meet ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐จ, a proud alumnus of the ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ of Mindanao State UniversityโIligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) whose passion for service has led him to become one of the region's outstanding nursing leaders. From his beginnings as a staff nurse to serving as Head Nurse of the Surgery Department at Amai Pakpak Medical Center and now working at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory of the Heart Institute, Dave's journey reflects dedication, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to patient-centered care.
Recognized as the ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ during the ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ โ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ in 2026, alongside numerous professional distinctions, he continues to exemplify excellence in healthcare while inspiring fellow nurses and aspiring healthcare professionals to lead with competence, compassion, and integrity.
๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ?
When I think about my time at MSU-IIT, I don't just remember the lectures, exams, or clinical dutiesโI remember the people, the friendships, and the experiences that helped shape who I am today. It was where I learned that success isn't about being the smartest person in the room, but about being willing to work hard, stay humble, and never stop improving. My professors challenged us to think critically, while my classmates taught me the value of teamwork, trust, and supporting one another through every challenge.
One lesson that has stayed with me is that learning never ends. The knowledge I gained at MSU-IIT gave me a strong foundation, but it also taught me to stay curious and keep growing. In nursing, every patient, every emergency, and every experience is an opportunity to learn something new. That mindset has inspired me to pursue further training, embrace new challenges, and continuously improve both as a nurse and as a leader.
Most importantly, MSU-IIT taught me resilience. There were stressful days, difficult exams, and moments when I doubted myself, but those experiences prepared me for the realities of working in the emergency room. Whenever I face a difficult situation today, I carry with me the values I learned as a studentโintegrity, compassion, perseverance, and service. Those lessons continue to guide me every day.
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๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ "๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐" ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ?
Receiving the "Best Head Nurse" award during the Bantogen a Nars 2026, is an honor that I truly value, but for me, it represents the dedication of the entire team rather than the achievement of one person. Throughout my journey in nursing, I've realized that the most important qualities of an effective healthcare professional are compassion, integrity, humility, teamwork, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Clinical skills are essential, but it's your character and the way you treat people that leave the greatest impact.
Working in the emergency room has taught me that every shift is a reminder that patients are more than their diagnoses. They are people who need reassurance, respect, and someone who genuinely cares. As a nurse leader, I believe leadership isn't about giving ordersโit's about setting an example, supporting your team during difficult moments, listening, and helping others grow. When you lead with empathy and remain calm under pressure, you create an environment where both patients and healthcare workers can thrive.
To everyone pursuing a career in nursing and healthcare, always remember why you chose this profession. Stay curious, continue learning, and never let success make you stop growing. Awards and recognition are meaningful, but the greatest reward is knowing that you made someone's hardest day a little easier. If you continue to serve with competence, compassion, and humility, you'll make a differenceโnot just in your patients' lives, but in the lives of everyone you work with.
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๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง?
When I look back on my career, the most challenging moments were not the long shifts or the physical exhaustionโthey were the moments when I had to stay strong for others, even when I was struggling myself. Working in the emergency room means facing life-and-death situations almost every day. There were times when we did everything we could, but still lost a patient, and those are the moments that stay with you. You learn that not every battle can be won, but every patient deserves your very best until the very end.
Those experiences have shaped me in ways I never imagined. They taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of remaining calm under pressure. They also reminded me that nursing is not just about clinical skillsโit's about compassion, teamwork, and treating every patient with dignity and respect. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career weren't dramatic rescues, but simple acts of kindness: comforting a frightened patient, supporting a grieving family, or encouraging a colleague after a difficult shift.
More than anything, this profession has made me a better person. It has taught me to appreciate life, to stay humble, and to never stop learning. Every challenge has become an opportunity to grow, not only as a nurse but also as a leader. Looking back, I realize that the difficult days didn't define meโthey refined me. They strengthened my commitment to serve with compassion, lead with integrity, and always remember that behind every patient is a person who simply needs someone to care.
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๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข, ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐?
To my colleagues who dream of becoming nurses and healthcare professionals, I want you to know that the journey won't always be easyโbut it will always be worth it. I've learned that some of the biggest lessons don't come from textbooks but from the people you meet, the patients you care for, and the moments that test your strength. Every challenge will help you become not only a better nurse, but also a better person.
There will be long shifts, sleepless nights, and days when you wonder if you're making a difference. Trust meโyou are. Sometimes it's not the medicines or procedures that patients remember, but the simple act of listening, holding a hand, or reassuring them that they're not alone. Never stop learning, stay curious, and don't be afraid to ask questions. The best nurses are the ones who know that there's always something new to learn.
Most importantly, never forget why you started. Let compassion be your greatest strength and humility be your guide. Wear your MSU-IIT roots with pride, stay true to your purpose, and keep serving with both skill and heart. You may not remember every shift years from now, but your patients will always remember how you made them feel. That's the kind of difference that truly matters.
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๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐
Dave S. Tolentino is a dedicated nursing professional and proud alumnus of the College of Health Sciences of Mindanao State UniversityโIligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). Since earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011, he has devoted more than a decade to public healthcare, serving in various capacities at Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City. From his early years as a staff nurse to becoming Surgery Department Head Nurse and currently serving as a Nurse Technician at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory of the Heart Institute, Dave has consistently demonstrated excellence in patient care, clinical leadership, and emergency healthcare.
His commitment to professional growth is reflected in his Master of Arts in Nursing major in Nursing Administration and specialized training in trauma nursing and cardiovascular care. Throughout his career, he has earned numerous distinctions, including the ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ (๐๐๐๐), ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ' ๐๐ก๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ (๐๐๐๐), and the prestigious ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ during the ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ โ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ (๐๐๐๐). Through his leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the nursing profession, Dave continues to embody the values of service and excellence while inspiring future healthcare professionals to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
